San Diego may not be near Munich but once a year it acts as if it is by hosting several Oktoberfest celebations.
Here is a rundown of Oktoberfest events, festivals and even a special Oktoberfest beer from a San Diego brewery. Ein Prost!
East Village Oktobefest (Saturday, Sept. 20)
The 9th annual 9th Annual East Village Oktoberfest takes place at Quaryard, which becomes an outdoor German bierhall for the day. Going from 3-8 p.m., it features big beers, food contests and Bavarian polka music from the Zeitgeist Oktoberfest Band. Tickets are $25.
Encinitas Oktoberfest (Sunday, Sept. 28)
A free event with a beer garden, bratwursts, live Bavarian music, dance troupes, a bier stein holding contest, a ceremonial parade at Noon while more than 125 local artisan vendors transform Mountain Vista Drive into a lively marketplace. The festival spans 1/3 of a mile along Mountain Vista Drive off El Camino Real, between Wandering Road and Rambling Road, and draws over 15,000 guests each year. A free shuttle sponsored by D Street Boardroom will run to/from the Flora Vista Elementary School parking lot to the corner of Mountain Vista & Wandering Road from 10:45 a.m. – 7:15 p.m. Additionally there will be a bike valet hosted by the City of Encinitas at each end of the event. Water refill stations also make it easy (and eco-friendly) to enjoy the day.
“Encinitas Oktoberfest brings the best of Bavaria to the California coast and is the perfect way to kick off the fall season,” said Sherry Yardley, CEO of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce and Visit Encinitas. “Whether you’re a long-time resident or a visitor, this event offers a unique blend of tradition, community, and entertainment that you won’t want to miss.”
El Cajon Oktoberfest (Sept. 25-27 & Oct. 3-5)
The biggest and longest – it’s two weekends – Oktoberfest celebration in San Diego and the one that probably provides the most authentic experience is hosted by the German American Societies of San Diego. It takes place in a German setting and the band, Guggenbach-Buam, comes in from Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Hours are 4-10 p.m., on Fridays Noon-10 on Saturdays Noon-9 on Sundays. and Tickets are $15 on Fridays and Saturdays and $5 for “family day” on Sundays.
Address & Map: 1017 S Mollison
La Mesa Oktoberfest (Oct. 3-5)
This is the 52nd anniversary of this Bavarian-and-more event. Taking place around several blocks of downtown La Mesa, it has a big biergarden with a main stage and other smaller beirgardens with more live entertainment. This is the most varied of the San Diego Oktoberfest celebrations in that in addition to an oompha band that rotates around to the various stages, it also has a lot of rock cover and tribute bands.
The event is free, tho it cost $15 to get into the biergardens (VIP and other packages are available). You can read more about La Mesa Oktoberfest here on PubClub.com and see the lineup of bands.
The hours are 4-10 on Friday, Noon-10 on Saturday and Noon-8 on Sunday. This
Karl Strauss Launches Oktoberfest Beer
Karl Strauss brewpubs are pouring its seasonal Oktoberfest beer. This German-style Märzen lager is 5.0% alcohol-by-volume (ABV), and it has a golden amber color. The beer features a blend of Vienna and Munich malts, along with Perle hops imported from the Hallertau region of Germany. It has toasted malt flavors, nutty undertones, and a crisp, clean finish.
“Karl Strauss himself would be proud to know that his classic Oktoberfest Märzen Lager, which was the very first brewed in San Diego back in 1989, is being shared with people for the 37th year in a row,” said Brewmaster Paul Segura. “Our German roots are represented in this true-to-style icon, and we can’t wait to raise a stein full of this beloved beer and start the party this Oktoberfest season.”
Karl Strauss brewpubs are selling a stein-and-fill for $15, with same-day refills for $6. The deal is also good for core beers Red Trolley Ale, Follow the Sun Lager, Tower X West Coast IPA, Boat Shoes Hazy IPA, Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Mosaic IPA, Windansea Wheat, House Blonde, and Karlito’s Mexican Lager.
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